92 Ala. 551 | Ala. | 1890
Appellant was appointed in August, 1888,. by the Probate Court of Blount County, guardian of Eva Williams, a minor- — about five years of age. This proceeding is an application in the name of the ward to revoke the 'letters of guardianship, which the court revoked, on the ground that her residence was not in Blount County, and that the court had no jurisdiction to appoint a guardian.
The statute declares: “Guardians must be appointed for minors under the age of twenty-one years, by the court of probate of the county in which such minor resides.” Code,. § 2370. Though the word residence is often used to signify a temporary abode, it is also used to signify a fixed and permanent home. Residence and domicil are not in all respects convertible terms; but when residence or resides is employed
As a general thing, the domicil of an infant child is that of the father, during his life time, following it through its changes, though they may live apart. — Metcalf v. Lowther, 56 Ala. 312. An infant, not being suijuris-, has no freedom of choice, and can not by his own act change his domicil; nor generally can his father, other than by changing his own. As has been said, their legal inseparability is essential to the efficiency of parental government; and to the discharge of the duties which the father owes, the child,land the rendition of the service which the child owes the father. Hence, as said by Gibson, 0. J., “The parent’s domicil, therefore, is consequently and unavoidably the domicil of the child.” — School Directors v. James, 2 W. & S. 568. Possibly, the abandonment of his family by the father, and the emancipation of his child, may constitute exceptions to this rule; but, as these exceptions do not arise in the present case, we express no opinion as to them. Jac. Dom., §§ 236-237. The expression of the father of the minor to his brother, to take his child and raise her right, made three or four weeks before his death, did not constitute the residence of the brother the domicil of the minor. Therefore, the domicil of the father, at the time of his death, determines the jurisdiction of the court to appoint a guardian.
On the undisputed facts — that the father, Thomas J. Williams, resided with his family for several years prior to and
The facts relied on to show a change of the father’s domicil are, that after the death of his wife he broke up house-keeping, removed a portion of his household furniture, and carried his infant daughter, the ward, to the residence of his brother-in Morgan County, and in the fall of 1887 joined the North Alabama Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He was appointed by the ecclesiastical authorities to a mission in Marshall County, to which he went, and died during the year 1888. It is a fact of consideration, that he did not sell, but rented for that- year his land in Blount County. It is not shown that he had fixed a home or taken-lodging in Marshall County, and no expressions are shown indicating an intention to make his permanent home in that county. The place of his death is of little importance in determining his place of domicil. The bill of exceptions recites, “that he had acquired no other permanent home, except as the pastor of' his circuit or mission.” The inference from these facts is, in the absence of other evidence, that his residence in Marshall County was for a temporary purpose, and for the term of his ministerial appointment. Mere presence, or residence in a place, for a special and temporary purpose, or for a limited time, with no intention to remain after the accomplishment of such purpose, or the expiration of such time, will not fix a domicil, whether the former place of abode has or has not been abandoned. When the nature or mode of the residence is inconsistent with the existence of an intention to remain permanently, or for an unlimited time, and with no present intention of removing, it is not sufficient .evidence of a change;
As the petition also avers that the guardian has been guilty of wasting the property of his ward and neglect of her affairs, which is a statutory ground of removal, but as to which no proof was offered, we will not dismiss the application, but re- ■ mand the cause that evidence may be taken as to this charge, if deemed advisable.
Reversed and remanded.